I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2082 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2009 Mr. Holt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require States to accept absentee ballots of overseas military and civilian voters which are submitted by the voter to a provider of express mail services not later than the day before the date of the election involved for transmission to the appropriate State election official, to require the Secretary of Defense to reimburse overseas military voters for the costs of using a provider of express mail services to transmit the ballot to the official, and for other purposes.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act.

2.

Acceptance of Absentee Ballots of Overseas Military and Civilian Voters Using Express Mail Services for Transmission

Section 102(a) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff–1(a)) is amended— (1)by striking and at the end of paragraph (4); (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6)accept and process, with respect to any election for Federal office, any otherwise valid absentee ballot (including the Federal write-in absentee ballot under section 103) from an overseas voter who provides the ballot to a provider of express mail services for transmission to the appropriate State election official not later than the day before the date of the election (as determined on the basis of either a postmark or a dated receipt generated by the provider of express mail services at the time the voter provides the ballot to such provider), so long as the ballot is received by the official prior to the expiration of the 10-day period which begins on the date of the election (or, if longer, such period as may be provided under State law). .

3.

Reimbursement of Costs Incurred by Overseas Military Voters in Using Express Mail Services for Transmission of Absentee Ballots

(a)

Reimbursement

Section 101 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d)

Reimbursement for Costs Incurred by Overseas Uniformed Services Voters in Using Express Mail Services for Transmission of Absentee Ballots

(1)

In general

The Presidential designee shall make a payment to each eligible overseas voter described in section 107(5)(A) whose absentee ballot was transmitted to the appropriate State election official by a provider of express mail services in an amount equal to the reasonable costs incurred by the voter in using the provider to transmit the ballot. (2)

Eligibility of voters

For purposes of paragraph (1), an overseas voter described in section 107(5)(A) is eligible to receive a payment from the Presidential designee under such paragraph if the voter submits to the Presidential designee (at such time and in such form as the Presidential designee may require) such information and assurances as the Presidential designee may require regarding the voter’s use of a provider of express mail services to transmit an absentee ballot and the costs incurred by the voter in using the provider to transmit the ballot. (3)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Presidential designee such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. . (b)

Conforming Amendment

Section 101(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff(b)) is amended— (1)by striking and at the end of paragraph (6); (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (7) and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (8)make payments to overseas uniformed services voters whose absentee ballots are transmitted to State election officials by providers of express mail services, in accordance with subsection (d). .

4.

Effective Date

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to each election for Federal office held on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.